Tender/non-tender decisions next up in Astros’ methodical off-season

The methodical winter for the Astros’ rebuilding, retooling, restructuring of the organization continues this week.

After establishing its 40-man roster (currently stands at 36) with new additions like Jarred Cosart, Chia-Jen Lo, Robbie Grossman and Jonathan Villar, Houston reaches another milemarker this week with four players. While these decisions don’t seem difficult, GM Jeff Luhnow will need to officially and formally offer contracts by Friday to these players:

Bud Norris.

Jed Lowrie.

Wesley Wright.

Wilton Lopez.

Lowrie is entering his second year in the aribtration process while Norris, Wright and Lopez are up for year one. The first decision — and this one has likely already been made — is to determine if these players will be offered a new deal or non-tendered. By not offering a contract, the player would become a free agent, able to sign with any team, including the Astros.

If the player is offered a contract, the team and the player would then exchange salary numbers, though a settlement could happen prior to hearings in late January or February. For example, Lowrie requested $1.5 million last winter and the Astros offered $900,000. The two sides settled at $1.15 million for 2012.

Other players, including J.A. Happ and Chris Johnson, were due arbitration this year but were traded during the season. They could have been due big paydays in the process and each could be non-tender candidates come Friday by the Blue Jays and Diamondbacks.

Lowrie earned the most in 2012 in the above group, but Norris is likely due the largest raise as he prepares for his fifth major league season. Despite an inconsistent 97 starts for the Astros, Norris could command $3 million or more in 2013, a significant raise over the $511,000 he made in 2012. Norris is 28-37, 4.42 with a 1.402 WHIP during his tenure with Houston. Remember, though, the arbitration process can be tricky as it factors in service time along with player comparables. In other words, stats — good or bad — won’t necessarily be the determining factor in Norris’ 2013 salary.

While assuming the Astros will offer contracts to each of the four aforementioned players, here are my predictions for what each player will ask and the team will offer. Bookmark it and we’ll compare notes later.

Norris: $3.5 million. Team: $2.7 million.

Lowrie: $2.3 million. Team: 1.6. million.

Wright: $1.2 million. Team: $800,000.

Lopez: $1.8 million. Team: $1.2 million.

This process will also open another avenue for potential additions to the Astros’ roster as players are non-tendered potentially by the remaining 29 teams. With four spots left on the 40-man roster, the Astros will also have the opportunity to choose first in next week’s Rule 5 draft.